Which Small Wader? (1 Viewer)

[wally170]

I'm hoping for a Curlew Sandpiper here, but every other picture I see throws it in to doubt.

Larger than Dunlins, significantly smaller than Redshank.
Looked a dumpier and more well built bird than a Dunlin.
Pure White under wings.
Black legs.
Long Decurved bill.
Strong white supercilium.
Slight 'buffness' to the top of the breast.

Some pics.

Thanks in advance.
Wally

 

[Andrew Whitehouse]

Reckon you can have that one - juvenile Curlew Sandpiper.

 

[James Lowther]

come on now Andrew, where's the link to photos of potential confusion species??...

:'D

the long decurved bill tapering to a point,
unmarked breast (with a buffy wash) and belly,
and uniform brownish upperparts all good pointers.

Other things that you can't really see on these pics are the scaly appearance to the upperparts caused by dark and light bands on the edge of the feathers, and the long legs, particularly above the "knee", which really stands out next to dunlin,

cheers,
James

 

[wally170]

Problem was, it was never stood directly next to a Dunlin, it was always behind the grass so impossible to tell true length of the legs.

It did have a 'Scaley' back though :-D

Wally

 

[lambshank]

It did have a 'Scaley' back though :-D

Wally

yes it did as juvniles show this. a nice juvenle curlew sandpiper.

ls